CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Terrifying Tigerfish Lunges Out Of The Water To Eat A Bird Mid-Flight

Researchers in South Africa captured the first video footage of a
freshwater fish lunging out of the water and snatching a bird in
flight.

The behavior was discovered during a 15-day study on Schroda Dam,
which created a man-made lake in the Mapungubwe National Park.

Freshwater fish, including some bass species, eels, and piranhas,
have been
shown to occasionally
prey on birds that are swimming in water, or sitting on land
close to the edge of the water, according to report published in
theJournal of Fish Biology.

But there are even fewer accounts of fish actually leaping out of
the water to catch small birds.

Until now, there was only anecdotal evidence that the African
tigerfish, a freshwater fish known scientifically as Hydrocynus
vittatus, had the ability to propel itself out of the water and
capture flying birds.

During the two-week survey, scientists observed as many as 20
successful attacks on low-flying barn swallows by African
tigerfish each day.

The fish either attacked the birds as they were swimming near the
surface of the water, or initiated a direct aerial strike from
deeper water, according to the study. The second strategy
appeared to be more successful.